Morrison move put on hold

Sam Allardyce has told Ravel Morrison that he needs to get back to training and competing for a first-team place before any move away from West Ham can be agreed.

The midfielder is thought to be close to making a loan switch to QPR but Allardyce, the West Ham manager, is frustrated by the former Manchester United starlet reporting injured.

"Ravel is still complaining about the problem that's he had from before Christmas, that he's got a rumbling groin problem," Allardyce said.

"He's going to have to decide whether to go for the hernia operation or not. The answer keeps being no, he doesn't need it, so what we have to do is get him back training and get him back in the squad.

"I haven't heard any rumours any other way regarding Ravel, but he certainly needs to get back training with the squad, and what he's got to realise is that now everybody's fit there's severe competition here, especially with the new players as well.

"That severe competition brings pressure on the players that are playing in the first team, knowing that if they perform poorly they could lose their place and that's certainly the case with the size of the squad at the moment, which is good and healthy."

Morrison attracted interest from Fulham in last month's transfer window but has not started for West Ham in the Premier League since facing United last December.

Since then, Morrison has started in FA Cup and League Cup defeats by Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, while he came on as a substitute in a top-flight defeat by Newcastle.

The 21-year-old was suggested as a potential wildcard for Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad when he was in form early this season. However, prospects for the player who left United after doubts arose about his attitude have dimmed considerably since.